Tag Archives: engaging

Are You Doing It Wrong?

Posted on May 20, 2017 by D.C. Enthusiast

(Photos show a collage of pictures I took over the weekend at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Industry) Would you like to know a secret? Unless you are damaging the collections, or interfering with other … Continue reading →

Posted in Kids in Museums, Museum Education | Tagged art, engaging, exhibit, museums with kids, no wrong way | Leave a comment

The Spooky House

Posted on March 11, 2017 by D.C. Enthusiast

This is the “Spooky House.” No, that is not its official title (embarrassingly I can’t find the notes where I wrote down its actual name) but it is what these two 4 year olds called the work. They spent ten … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood Education, Kids in Museums, Museum Education | Tagged engaging, interactive, museum education, museum professionals, observation, planning | Leave a comment

“Hands On” Art

Posted on October 18, 2016 by D.C. Enthusiast

The first child picked up the brush and dunked it in the paint. As the paint dripped off onto her hand she ran the brush back and forth spreading a thick coat all over her hand and arm. She was … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood Education, Museum Education | Tagged art, engaging, everyday, hands on, paint, planning, preschool, teachable moments | Leave a comment

The Gift of Time

Posted on October 2, 2016 by D.C. Enthusiast

Young children can do amazing things when they have the time. You’ll read article after article talking about how we over schedule our kids and we need to slow down and simplify. However, I think it goes even farther then … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood Education, Uncategorized | Tagged blocks, engaging, everyday, learning through play, play, preschool, teachable moments, time | Leave a comment

More Then “Please Touch”

Posted on June 28, 2016 by D.C. Enthusiast

With an ocean-obsessed preschooler, we have been visiting a lot of aquariums. At our most recent stop, my husband turned to me and said “This one is really different! There are so many things you can touch.” He was right, … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood Education, Kids in Museums, Museum Education | Tagged accessible, aquarium, engaging, interaction, interactive, photography welcome, please touch | Leave a comment

You Should Make Him Share

Posted on May 25, 2016 by D.C. Enthusiast

“You should make him share” It was said in a stage whisper, so that I could hear it but also so the little boy’s caregiver could hear it. I understood her reasoning. He had mounds of clay, a mountain of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabinet of Curiosities-Updates, Early Childhood Education | Tagged art, clay, engaging, everyday, Fairfax Library, sharing, teachable moments, tough topics | Leave a comment

5 Minute Object Lessons

Posted on October 20, 2015 by D.C. Enthusiast

“Object based learning” sounds like such a buzzword. Maybe it brings to mind a really complicated lesson with a lot of moving parts, or a super unique object that the child has never seen before. Sure, you could do it … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood Education, Museum Education, Museum Fun at Home, Uncategorized | Tagged engaging, everyday, five minute, museum professionals, museums with kids, object based learning, Parents, planning, teachable moments | Leave a comment

Collecting is Child’s Play

Posted on October 6, 2015 by D.C. Enthusiast

Went for a rainy, fall wander with my three year old and quickly realized…anyone who says that museums aren’t for kids has never been on a walk with a young child. “Oh Mama, look at that one! Oh Mama! I … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood Education, Kids in Museums, Museum Education, Museum Fun at Home | Tagged collecting, educators, engaging, everyday, museums with kids, outdoor, teachable moments | Leave a comment

Museums and Kids…what is the point?

Posted on September 1, 2015 by D.C. Enthusiast

What is the point of using museums in your lessons or visiting them with young children? Museums can add an element you can’t get anywhere else. Whether that is because of a unique object, physical location or something else. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Kids in Museums, Museum Education, Uncategorized | Tagged educators, engaging, museum professionals, museums with kids, teachable moments | Leave a comment

Conferences and Trainings…What Next?

Posted on August 4, 2015 by D.C. Enthusiast

As I’ve moved jobs from the museum to the classroom to the in-between contractor existence one thing has remained constant, workshops and conferences have been a big part of keeping me professionally “healthy.” It is often the one time in … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Childhood Education | Tagged conferences, educators, engaging, museum professionals, training, workshops | Leave a comment